PUBLIC POLICY: 1. The organizing framework of purposes and rationales for government
programs that deal with specified societal problems; 2. the complex of programs enacted and
implemented by the government.
RATIONAL MODEL OF DECISION MAKING: Derived from economic theories of how to make
the "best" decisions; involves efforts to move toward consciously-held goals in a way that requires
the smallest input of scarce resources; assumes the ability to separate ends from means, rank all
alternatives, gather all possible data, and objectively weigh alternatives; stresses rationality in the
process of reaching decisions.
RECONCILIATION BILL: Legislative action that attempts to reconcile individual actions in taxes,
authorizations, or appropriations with the totals.
REDISTRIBUTIVE POLICY: Policy designed to take taxes from certain groups and give them to
another group.
REGRESSIVE TAX: One that taxes those with lower incomes at a proportionately higher rate than
those with higher incomes.
REGULATION: Government activity designed to monitor and guide private economic competition;
specific actions (characterized as economic regulation) have included placing limits on producers'
prices and practices, and promoting commerce through grants or subsidies; other actions emerging
more recently (termed social regulation) have included regulating conditions under which goods and
services are produced and attempting to minimize product hazards and risks to consumers.
REGULATORY COMMISSION: Group formed to regulate a particular area of the economy:
usually headed by a group of individuals appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
REGULATORY POLICY: Policy designed to limit actions of persons or groups to protect all or
parts of the general public.
REINVENTING GOVERNMENT: 1. The title of a book written by David Osborne and Ted
Gaebler in 1992. 2. Term referring to ideas used in government that are entrepreneurial in nature
whose purpose is to improve government services.
RESCISSION: Presidential decision to permanently withhold funds.
REVENUE SHARING: Grant pattern in which the money can be used in any way the recipient
government chooses.